Simple Interface to existing Micro's - easy alternative to GPRS modem - is it available ?

[Jigsaw]

Ive Used GSM Modems for M2M data comms and would like to use the Nordic nRF9160. I dont want to use a Thingy or any development boards just need to get straight on to designing in to a real product. im sure someone must have simply made a small board that holds the modem device, SIM and Aerial connector with a simple serial interface that I can then use with any micro I choose - Is this available or even possible ?

[Øyvind]

Hello, 

Please have a look at our Serial LTE Modem sample which allows users to exploit the modem of the nRF9160 together with other microcontrollers.

Kind  regards,
Øyvind

[Jigsaw]

Ive looked at that - the command structure looks simple, but it seems to have been implemented on demo boards. What would be very useful (I suspect for most people wanting to integrate this techonolgy quickly) would be a simple, small  pcb with the device,a SIM socket and an aerial. It just needs four connections for 0V, Power, TX and RX, with all the software to emulate a modem implemented in the nordic devices processor. Is this possible ? does this exist ?

Just about everyone in the M2M space will know how to use a GSM modem to get data from the field to a fixed IP receiver on a server - if someone made this device as simple to adopt, i suspect takeup would be immense and swift.

[Øyvind]

Nordic Semiconductor does not provide anything else than the reference design, the Thingy:91 (documentation), and the development kit, nRF9160 DK (documentation). There are some companies that have started to make development kits in smaller designs, e.g. nRF9160 Feather. 

To get something smaller I recommend looking at our design files and try to design your own PCB.

Kind regards,
Øyvind